Sausage Sandwich Squares

Printable Recipe


This recipe comes from Taste of Home

3 - 3 1/2 cups flour
1 pkg (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/3 cups warm water (120 to 130 degrees)
1 lb bulk Italian sausage
1 sweet red pepper, diced
1 green pepper, diced
1 onion, diced
4 cups (16 oz) shredded Mozzarella cheese
1 egg
1 tbsp water
2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp minced fresh parsley
1/2 tsp oregano leaves
1/8 tsp garlic pwd

In a large bowl, combine 2 cups flour, yeast and salt. Add warm water; mix well. Add enough remaining flour to form a firm dough. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 50 minutes.

In a skillet, cook sausage until no longer pink; remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. In the drippings, saute the peppers and onion until tender; drain. Press half the dough onto the bottom and 1/2 inch up the sides of a greased 15 x 10 x 1" jelly roll pan. Spread sausage evenly over the crust. Top with peppers and onion. sprinkle with the Mozzarella cheese.

Roll out remaining dough to fit pan; place over cheese and seal edges. In a small bowl, combine the egg and water. Add the Parmesan cheese, parsley, oregano and garlic pwd; mix well. Brush over dough. Cut slits in top. Bake 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Cut into squares.

Paul Bunyan's Chili

Printable Recipe


This recipe came from my brother-in-law. It is very good!

2 large onions, chpd
1 green pepper, chpd
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 lbs hamburger
2 ( 16-oz ) cans red kidney beans
1 ( 16-oz ) can tomatoes, cut up
1 ( 8-oz ) can tomato sauce
1 1/2 tsp salt
2-4 tbsp chili pwd, according to taste
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 tsp oregano leaves
dash paprika
dash cayenne, according to taste

In a large skillet or Dutch oven, saute onion, green pepper and garlic in oil until tender. Add hamburger and brown; drain off fat. Drain the kidney beans and reserve the liquid. Add the beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce and seasonings. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cover. Simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Add the reserved bean liquid if the chili becomes dry.

Quick and Easy Sloppy Joes

Printable Recipe

1 1/2 lbs hamburger
chpd onion
salt and pepper to taste
1 can Campbells Chicken Gumbo soup
2-3 tbps mustard, or more to taste
1/2 cup ketchup, or more to taste

Brown the hamburger and onion together until hamburger is done. Drain. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer for 1/2 hour. Serve on hamburger buns.

Delicious Pumpkin Bread

Printable Recipe


This is a little unusual in that it uses pudding mixes. It is very moist. If you want to make smaller loaves to give as gifts, or to make sure you are able to use it all up, use miniature foil pans - the kind you get at the grocery store in the baking aisle. (They come in sets of 2 or 3.) 3 of those miniature pans equal one regular sized bread pan.

5 eggs
1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
1 (15-oz ) can pumpkin
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 ( 3-oz each ) pkgs Cook-and-Serve vanilla pudding mix
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt

In a large bowl, beat the eggs. Add the oil and pumpkin; beat until smooth. Combine the dry ingredients and stir into the pumpkin mixture. Pour into 2 greased loaf pans and bake at 325 degrees for about an hour or so, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. If you are using the minature pans, they will not need to bake as long.

Bisquick Coffee Cake

Printable Recipe


Streusel
1 1/3 cups Original Bisquick mix
1 1/3 cups brown sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup firm butter, cut into pieces

Coffee Cake
4 cups Original Bisquick mix
1 1/3 cups milk or water (I always use milk)
4 tbsp sugar
2 eggs

Grease a 9 x 13" pan. In a bowl, combine the streusel ingredients and stir together until crumbly, set aside.

In another bowl, combine the cake ingredients, stirring just until blended. Spread into the greased pan. Sprinkle with the streusel. Bake 375 degrees for 18 - 22 minutes or until set and golden brown.

Zucchini Bread II

Printable Recipe


I found this recipe on AllRecipes.com and adjusted some of the ingredients. It stays very moist for quite some time. It freezes well.

3 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking pwd
3 tsp cinnamon
1/4 - 3/8 tsp nutmeg
1/4 - 3/8 tsp allspice
3 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
3 tsp vanilla
3 cups grated zucchini (leave the peels on)
1 cup walnuts (optional)

Grease two loaf pans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, soda, baking pwd, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice. In another large bowl, beat the eggs, oil, and sugars. Add the dry ingredients and mix well. Stir in the zucchini and nuts until well mixed. Pour into greased pans and bake 325 degrees for 40 - 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool bread in pans for 20 minutes and remove bread to cool completely on a wire rack.

Note: If your bread pans are dark, reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees. This is a general rule of thumb. If you are using dark pans, always reduce your oven temp by 25 degrees.

Applesauce Bars II

Printable Recipe


These are very moist, and tasty.

1/4 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup applesauce
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Frosting
1 1/2 cups pwd sugar
3 tbsp butter, melted
1 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla

In a medium bowl, mix together the butter, brown sugar, and egg until smooth. stir in the applesauce. Combine the flour, soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice and stir into the applesauce mixture until well blended. Spread evenly into a greased 9 x 13" pan. Bake 350 degrees for about 25 minutes, or until edges are golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.

Combine the frosting ingredients and spread evenly over cooled bars.

Basic Buttercream Frosting

Printable Recipe


This is enough frosting to frost a 2 - Layer cake or a 9 x 13" cake

1/3 cup butter, melted
3 cups pwd sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
2 -3 tbsp milk

Combine butter, pwd sugar, vanilla and 2 tbsp milk in a bowl . Beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Add additional milk if frosting is too thick.

Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread (Monkey Bread)

Printable Recipe


This is very good. If you don't like the caramel on traditional Monkey Bread, try this version.

3/4 cup sugar
1 tbsp cinnamon
4 cans (7.5 - oz each) Pillsbury refrigerated buttermilk biscuits, divided ( I use the kind where there are 4 canisters bundled together, and have blue wrappers)
1/2 cup plus 2 - 3 tbsp butter, melted

Grease a 9 x 13" pan. Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a large, shallow bowl. Cut each biscuit into eighths and roll around in the sugar/cinnamon mixture until completely coated. Drop the biscuits into the cake pan. When you've used 2 of the cans, drizzle half of the butter over the biscuit pieces. Repeat layer with the other 2 cans of biscuits and then drizzle with the remaining butter. Bake 350 degrees for about 25 - 30 minutes until golden brown. Drizzle with a Basic Buttercream Frosting or a Cream Cheese Frosting while still warm.

If desired, use maple flavoring in place of vanilla extract if using the buttercream frosting.

Stove Top Au Gratin Potatoes

Printable Recipe


These are very easy and good. Because they are stirred on top of the stove, the potatoes have a tendency to become more like mashed, but they still taste great!

Saute
1 small onion, diced
3 tbsp butter

Saute until onions are soft.

Add
4 medium potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
1 tsp salt
1 cup milk

Cover pan. Cook slowly, about 20 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.

Rainbow Jello

Printable Recipe


This recipe came from my sister-in-law. It is very pretty, and a nice accompaniment to Thanksgiving dinner.

2 (3 - oz) pkgs grape jello
2 (3 - oz) pkgs cherry jello
2 (3 - oz) pkgs orange jello
2 (3 - oz) pkgs lemon jello
1 (3 - oz) pkg lime jello

boiling water
cold water
cold evaporated milk

Dissolve 1 pkg grape jello in 3/4 cup boiling water. Add 1/2 cup cold water. Pour into a 9 x 13" pan. Chill for 30 minutes. Dissolve second pkg grape jello in 3/4 cup boiling water. Add 1/2 cup cold evaporated milk. Pour over first layer. Chill for 30 minutes. Repeat with remaining jello, in the order given, following the same directions and chilling between layers. Chilling longer than 30 minutes between layers could cause the layers to separate.

Creamy Orange Jello/Pudding

Printable Recipe


I don't have a title for this recipe. It originally came from my best friend (the one whose husband gave me the nickname of the Sugar Queen). It's very good, and is often requested.

1 (3 - oz) pkg orange jello
2 (3 - oz) pkgs Cook & Serve vanilla pudding (not instant)
2 1/4 cups hot water
1 (8 - 12 oz) ctr Cool Whip
1 can mandarin oranges, drained (optional)

Combine the jello, pudding mixes and hot water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, over medium heat. Mixture will become thick and transparent. Remove from heat and allow to cool for a while. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours. Beat in the Cool Whip until well combined, and stir in the mandarin oranges. Store in the refrigerator.

Strawberry Supreme Salad

Printable Recipe


Very good!

2 (3 - oz) pkgs strawberry jello, divided
2 cups boiling water, divided
1 (10 - oz) pkg frozen strawberries
1 1/2 cups vanilla ice cream

Dissolve 1 pkg jello in 1 cup boiling water. Add the strawberries, and stir until thickened. Pour into a 5 cup mold, or pretty, glass bowl. Chill until set, but not firm.

Dissolve other pkg of jello in other cup of boiling water. Add ice cream by spoonfuls. Stir until the ice cream is melted. Pour on top of the the other layer of jello. Chill until firm.

Herbed Rice

Printable Recipe


A recipe from my sister. It's very good!

1 1/2 cups uncooked, long-grain rice
4 1/2 cups water
1/4 cup butter
2 tbsp chicken base*
1/2 tsp marjoram
1/2 tsp rosemary
1/2 tsp thyme

Put all of the ingredients in a skillet that has a skillet. Heat to boiling. Pour rice into a greased 9 x 13" pan. Bake 375 degrees for 35 minutes, until all the liquid is absorbed and rice is cooked through.

*Chicken base is not the same as chicken bouillon. It is a paste, and is in a short, squat jar. I don't recall the brand name, but the label is dark and is alongside the granulated/cubed bouillon.

Apple-Spice Layer Cake with Caramel Swirl Icing

Printable Recipe


This comes from the cookbook "The Pastry Queen Christmas". I wish you could see the picture of the cake in the book. YUM! I haven't tried this yet, but once I do, I will report here how it tastes.

I know the directions look lengthy and complicated, but for the most part, they are just wordy, is all.

Cake
1 1/2 cups butter, softened
3 cups sugar
2 tbsp molasses
6 large eggs
3 cups cake flour
1 1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp kosher salt (not table salt)
2 tbsp cinnamon (yes, tbsp)
2 tsp allspice
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp ginger
1 cup sour cream
3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and shredded (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 tbsp vanilla (yes, tbsp)
1 tbsp grated fresh ginger (optional)

Icing
1 (14 - oz) bag caramels, unwrapped
4 tbsp heavy whipping cream, divided
2 tbsp PLUS 1 1/2 cups butter, softened, divided
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups pwd sugar
1 cup (8 - oz) mascarpone (Italian cream cheese, available at most grocery stores)*

2 cups pecan pieces, toasted (optional)

Place one oven rack in the bottom third of the oven and a second rack in the top third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease three 9" cake pans with butter or cooing spray, then line each with a parchment paper round and grease the rounds.

Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Beat in the molasses. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, soda, salt and spices to blend. Add the flour mixture and sour cream alternately to the batter. (Start and end with the flour mixture, adding the flour mixture in three increments and the sour cream in two increments.) After each addition, mix on low speed just to combine the ingredients. Stir in the shredded apples, vanilla and ginger.

Spoon the batter (it will be thick) evenly into the prepared pans. Place two cake pans side by side on one rack, and the third pan on the other rack, so that no layer is directly over another. Bake for 35 - 40 minutes, until firm to the touch. Monitor the layers carefully for doneness; each one may be done at a different time. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edges of the pans and unmold the cakes onto wire racks to cool completely, 15 - 30 minutes, before frosting.

If desired, the cakes can be kept frozen, tightly wrapped in plastic wrap, for 3 weeks. Defrost them at room temperature before unwrapping. Frost immediately.

To make the Icing
In a medium stainless-steel bowl, combine the unwrapped caramels, 2 tbsp of the cream, and 2 tbsp butter. Place over a saucepan filled with 2" of simmering water. Stir the caramel mixture until smooth. Remove the bowl from the heat. Let cool, stirring mixture every few minutes, until cool to the touch, about minutes. (If the mixture is too warm, it will melt the buttercream frosting when it is stirred in later.)

While the caramel is cooling, make the buttercream: using an electric mixer, beat 1 1/2 cups butter on medium-high speed for about 1 minute, until pale in color. Add the remaining 2 tbsp cream, vanilla and pwd sugar, and beat for 3 minutes, until light and fluffy. Add the mascarpone and beat on medium-low speed until incorportated. Do not overbeat the mascarpone, or it will separate. Reserve 1/4 cup of the cooled caramel mixture to drizzle over the cake once it is frosted. Stir together the remainder of the caramel into the frosting, using large strokes to create caramel swirls throughout. Don't stir it up too mich, or ribbons of caramel will disappear.

Place one cake layer on a serving plate and spread a thick blanket of frosting on top. Add the second layer and spread thickly with frosting. Add the third layer and cover the top and sides of the cake with an even layer of frosting. Use a small spoon to drizzle the reserved caramel over the top of the cake. pat on the toasted pecan pieces to cover only the sides of the cake.

* I would think that you could use regular cream cheese in place of the mascarpone.

Hasselback Potatoes

Printable Recipe


These are really good! You could use finely shredded Cheddar cheese if you'd like, in place of the Parmesan.

6 medium baking potatoes (about 2 lbs)
1/4 cup butter, melted
salt & pepper
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp dry bread crumbs
paprika

Cut whole potatoes, crosswise, into 1/8" slices, cutting only 3/4ths of the way through the potato. Place cut-side up in a greased 9 x 13" pan. Brush the potatoes with the some of the butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake 375 degrees for 45 minutes, brushing with more of the butter as they bake. Mix together the bread crumbs and the cheese, then sprinkle over the potatoes. Sprinkle on some paprika. Bake until tender, another 20 - 30 minutes.

Butter Glazed Apples

Printable Recipe


These are great served alongside ham or pork chops. Use a tart apple for these, such as Granny Smith, Braeburn, Fuji, Jonathan

Melt in a skillet:
2 tbsp butter

Add
4 medium apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon (may want to add additional sugar and cinnamon, if apples are too tart)

Bring to a quick boil, reduce heat and cook, covered, for 15 - 20 minutes, or until apples are tender. If desired, thicken the sauce with a binder of cornstarch/cold water.

Elegant Potatoes Au Gratin

Printable Recipe

1 (24 - oz) pkg frozen Ore' Ida shredded Hash Brown Potatoes, thoroughly thawed and water squeezed out
1 (8 - oz) pkg shredded cheddar cheese
1 tsp salt
1 pint (2 cups) whipping cream
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1 tbsp butter, melted

Butter a 1 1/2 quart casserole. Alternate layers of potatoes and cheese in casserole. Sprinkle salt. Pour whipping cream over potato/cheese layers. Top with the bread crumbs that have been mixed with the butter. Bake 350 degrees for 45 - 60 minutes.

Golden Treasure Meatballs

Printable Recipe


This is a dish my mother made, for many years. It is sort of reminiscent of porcupine meatballs.

1 1/2 lbs hamburger
1 1/2 cups soft bread crumbs (bread torn or cut into small cubes)
1/3 cup chopped green pepper
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/2 - 1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 egg, beaten
1/3 cup ketchup
16 ( 3/4" ) cubes of American Cheese
2 tbsp oil
3 - 4 (8 - oz) cans tomato sauce

Mix together the hamburger, bread crumbs, green pepper, garlic salt, salt, pepper, egg and ketchup. Form into 16 meatballs. Push a cube of cheese into the center of the meatball, forming the meat around the cheese. Carefully brown the meatballs in the oil in a heavy skillet, being careful not to break apart the meatballs. Drain the oil and pour 2 of the cans of tomato sauce over the meatballs. Cover skillet and cook 20 minutes on medium - low. Uncover the skillet and add the last can of tomato sauce, and cook for an additional 5 - 10 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through, and the sauce has thickened. Serve over hot, cooked rice.

Chocolate Dessert

Printable Recipe


Bottom Layer
2 cups crushed graham crackers
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup pwd sugar

Combine the above and pat into a greased 9 x 13" pan and bake for 7 - 10 minutes.

Middle Layer
1 (8 - oz) pkg cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1 (8 - oz) carton Cool Whip, divided

Beat together the cream cheese and sugar, until smooth. Stir in half of the Cool Whip. Spread over baked crust.

Top Layer
1 (3 - oz) pkg instant chocolate pudding mix
1 (3 - oz) pkg instant vanilla pudding mix
3 cups cold milk

chocolate shavings, optional

Beat together the pudding mixes, until smooth. Let set for 5 minutes and spread over the cream cheese layer. Spread remaining Cool Whip on top, and sprinkle with chocolate shavings, if desired. Cover and keep refrigerated.